Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for processing photothermographic elements. The apparatus thermally develops a photothermographic element by heating the photothermographic element between a heated member, having a resilient layer, and a plurality of rollers. The apparatus can be a component of other apparatus and systems including those having the ability to expose the photothermographic element to form a latent image.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing and digitizing an exposed silver halide photographic film comprises processing means in which said exposed photographic film is processed to form an analog image on said film, and digitizing means in which said analog image is photoelectrically read-out to form a digital image representing said analog image. Means for processing the exposed photographic film comprises means for developing, stabilizing and drying of said film. Digitization is effected on a photographic film which has been developed but not fixed and which retains both image-wise developed metallic silver and undeveloped silver halide grains.

Abstract: A system for belt registration for use in an electrophotographic imaging system, which operates to detect a position of the photoconductor belt uses a pulsed light photodetection system disposed adjacent an edge of the photoconductor belt. The photodetection system may be synchronous or asynchronous. The registration system includes a belt steering system that steers the photoconductor belt based on the detected position to reduce deviation of the belt from a transport path. The registration system may also include a scan control system such that, based on the detected position, controls the modulation of laser beams scanned to form latent images on the photoconductor belt.

Abstract: A bag and a method of packing a bag for storing sheets of material, such as photosensitive materials, provides a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material. The bag has a rear end which has a serpentine passageway, thereby creating a light-tight end as well as allowing for entrapped air to exit the cavity of the bag.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for use in an ink replenishment system in an electrographic imaging device. The removable ink cartridge is configured to engage with a cartridge interface assembly and a detector in an ink cartridge bay on an electrographic imaging device. The ink cartridge has an outer shell comprising at least a first compartment containing a liquid ink and a second compartment. A first valve is fluidly coupled to the first compartment. Second and third valves are fluidly coupled to the second compartment. The first, second, and third valves are adapted to engage with corresponding valves at the cartridge interface assembly. A plurality of key slots are provided for receiving one or more key tabs that identify the ink cartridge. The key tabs are positioned to engage with the detector in the ink cartridge bay. A cap for an ink cartridge is also disclosed.

Abstract: For control of static ink delivery pressure, a system and method make use of an outer chamber having a first outlet for delivery of ink to an ink printing mechanism, an inner chamber having a second outlet for delivery of ink to the outer chamber, and a pressure source that applies negative pressure to the outer chamber. The inner chamber maintains an internal negative pressure that is selected to control a level of the ink within the outer chamber relative to a height of the second outlet within the outer chamber. In particular, inner chamber maintains the ink level at a substantially constant level by replenishing the volume of ink within the outer chamber upon consumption. When ink is consumed by the ink printing mechanism, the inner chamber delivers a proportional volume of ink to the outer chamber that is sufficient to restore the ink to the desired level.

Abstract: The invention is an intermediate transfer element for liquid electrophotography comprising a material which is capable of absorbing the carrier liquid in amounts from 5 to 100% by weight based on the weight of the absorbing material, as well as, a system incorporating that element and a method of creating an image using that element.

Abstract: A laser addressable thermal imaging element comprising a bleachable photothermal converting dye in association with a heat-sensitive imaging medium, and a photoreducing agent for said dye, said photoreducing agent bleaching said dye on laser address of the element. The imaging element may be in the form of a colorant transfer system, a peel-apart system, a phototackification system or a unimolecular thermal fragmentation system. Also provided is a method of crosslinking a resin by leaser irradiation, which is useful in the production of colored images.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning and scheduling resource requests to resource providers use a modified "best-first" search technique that combines optimization, artificial intelligence, and constraint-processing to arrive at near-optimal assignment and scheduling solutions. In response to changes in a dynamic resource environment, potential changes to an existing assignment set are evaluated in a search for a better solution. New calls are assigned and scheduled as they are received, and the assignment set is readjusted as the field service environment changes, resulting in global optimization. Each search operation is in response to either an incremental change to the assignment set such as adding a new resource request, removing a pending resource request, reassigning a pending resource request, or to a request for further evaluation. Thus, the search technique assumes that the existing assignment set is already optimized, and limits the task only to evaluating the effects of the incremental change.

Abstract: A laser-induced thermal imaging system having a donor element and a receptor element. The donor element includes a substrate on which is coated transfer material that includes: a binder including a hydroxylic resin; a fluorocarbon additive; a cationic infrared absorbing dye; a dihydropyridine latent crosslinking agent; and a dispersible material. The receptor element comprises a texturized surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for imparting a succession of predetermined machine readable latent images on a strip of unexposed light sensitive film having a series of frames, the succession of latent images being individually indicative each of the series of frames of the film. A light source is adapted to be controlled at a rate associated for a particular type of film, the light source produces imaging light to which the film is sensitive. A ferroelectric liquid crystal array receives the imaging light, the ferroelectric liquid crystal array having a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being individually switchable between opaque and transparent, the plurality of segments being formed so that the ferroelectric liquid crystal array can produce all of the predetermined latent images. Focusing means for focuses the imaging light which has passed through the ferroelectric liquid crystal array onto the strip of light sensitive film.

Abstract: Apparatus and method in which a multi-color image, such as a standard four color image, is assembled on a medium, such as paper or film. Liquid ink contains conventional "solid" colored toner particles and also contains transparent counter ions. The conventional "solid" colored toner particles in plate to the surface of the photoreceptor while the transparent counter ions plate in the opposite direction, i.e., the transparent counter ions plate to the surface of photoreceptor in areas which are not discharged. Conventional "solid" colored toner particles plate to electrode in areas where the photoreceptor has not been discharged while transparent counter ions plate to electrode in areas discharged.

Abstract: A system for registration of color separation images on a photoconductor belt in an imaging system operates to detect a position of the photoconductor belt using an opening which may be scribed through the belt opaque layer. The registration system detects the position with the same laser scanner used for forming latent images on the photoconductor belt. The registration system includes a belt steering control system that steers the photoconductor belt based on the detected position to reduce deviation of the belt from a continuous transport path. The registration system also may include a scan control system that, based on the detected position, controls the modulation of laser beams scanned to form latent images on the photoconductor belt. By controlling belt steering and laser beam scanning, the registration system maintains the image quality of a final multi-color image upon transfer of registered color separation images to an output substrate.

Abstract: A system for registration of a photoconductor belt in a multi-color electrophotographic imaging system, which operates to detect a position of the photoconductor belt uses a photodetection system disposed adjacent a plurality of scribed lines in the photoconductor belt. The registration system also includes a belt steering system that steers the photoconductor belt based on the detected position to reduce deviation of the belt from a transport path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing back-plated developer from a development device in a liquid electrographic imaging system make use of a blade disposed to remove back-plated developer from the development device, and a brush disposed to remove the back-plated developer from the blade and redisperse the back-plated developer into a developer liquid supply. The brush includes a shaft and bristles disposed about the shaft. The shaft preferably is rotated to drive the bristles against the blade. In this manner, the bristles remove the back-plated developer from the blade and redisperse the back-plated developer within the developer liquid supply. The bristles can be formed from a substantially resilient material to generate a flicking action upon deflection and recovery. This flicking action facilitates redispersion of the back-plated developer into the developer liquid supply.

Abstract: A liquid ink composition containing organosols having side-chain or main-chain crystallizable polymeric moieties is described. The incorporation of organosols having crystallizable polymeric moieties into the ink compositions provide improved blocking resistance and improved erasure resistance when used in ink transfer, ionographic, electrographic and electrophotographic color printing or proofing processes.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus for an imaging device. The apparatus includes a drive roller, plurality of sheets of photosensitive material, a photographically inert liner having upper and lower surfaces and a container for storing the sheets of photosensitive material. Proper feeding of the sheets of material and a stable location of the liner are ensured by appropriate coefficients of friction between the respective components. The top surface (19b) of the liner (19) to the bottom surface (18B) of the sheets (18) has a first coefficient of friction and the bottom of one sheet (18) to the top of another sheet (18) has a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient friction being less than the first coefficient of friction, whereby multiple feeds of the sheets are reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system are provided. The multi-color imaging system is capable of applying different colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values. The input color values control amounts of the colorants to be applied to the substrate by the imaging system. A subset of the input color values is selected and used to control the imaging system to apply one or more of the different colorants to the substrate, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on the substrate. The subset of input color values is selected such that one or more of the different color patches is formed by application of a combination of at least two of the different colorants to the substrate. Color values are measured for each of the different color patches, and compared to reference color values, representing a calibrated condition of the imaging system. An error value is calculated.

Abstract: A bag and a method of packing a bag for storing sheets of material, such as photosensitive materials, provides a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material. The bag has a rear end which has a serpentine passageway, thereby creating a light-tight end as well as allowing for entrapped air to exit the cavity of the bag.

Abstract: An imaging system and method incorporate an apparatus and method for cleaning developer liquid from an imaging substrate such as a photoreceptor.